6 Best POS Systems For A Grocery Store In 2024

Get Started With Square For Retail

Total Rating	4.7
Pricing4.5
Ease Of Use5.0
Features4.8
Customer Service4.8
User Reviews4.7

Pricing

$0-$60/month

Contract

None

Equipment Cost

$0+

Promo: Get up to $100 off a hardware purchase from Square POS with coupon code SAVEONSQUARE. Offer valid until 5/15/2024. Claim your discount.

Pros

Free plan available
Free online ordering platform
Affordable POS hardware
EBT and WIC sales capabilities

Cons

Not available on Android devices
Occasional outages
Occasional fund holds

Why We Picked Square For A Low-Cost Option

Square For Retail earned a 4.5 out of 5 in pricing in our evaluation of retail POS systems. We like that Square offers one of the best free POS systems, affordable POS hardware with interest-free financing available, and a free online ordering platform for pickup and delivery orders. Square works on any iPad or iPhone, so you can sell from your store, at farmers' markets, and events.

Pricing

Square For Retail Plans	Price	When To Use
Free Plan	$0/month (2.6% + $0.10 processing fees)	You have a retail store with basic inventory and reporting needs
Pro Plan	$89/month (2.5% + $0.10 processing fees)	You have a small to mid-sized retail establishment with advanced back-end needs
Premium Plan	Custom pricing (2.5% + $0.10 processing fees)	You sell more than $250,000 a year

Square charges 2.5%-2.6% + $0.10 for card-present transactions and 2.9% + $0.30 for online transactions. There is a 2.5% load fee on Square gift cards.

Square For Retail works on iPad or iPhone. Other Square hardware includes:

Contactless Card Reader: $59
iPad Stand: $149 (iPad not included)
Cash Drawer: $129
Barcode Scanner: $119
Weight Scale: $500
Square Register: $799 (no iPad necessary)
Square Register Retail Kit: $1,959; includes Square Register, cash drawer, receipt printer, label printer, and barcode scanner

Learn More: Read our Square POS hardware guide.

Features

Accept debit, credit, cash, check, digital wallet, gift card, and store credit payments
Accept EBT/food stamps and WIC cards through paid TotilPay integration
Free online ordering platform
Online order pickup, delivery, and shipping options
Sell physical and eGift cards
Free team management (up to five team members)
Integrate a weight scale for fresh food sales
Start a loyalty program ($45+/month)
Manage a food subscription/CSA program with Local Food Marketplace integration
Free social media marketing integration
Low-stock alerts
Unlimited POS licenses on the free plan

For more advanced inventory management tools like inventory counts and barcode label printing, upgrade to the paid Square plan.

More: Compare Square with our other best gift card program builders.

When To Use Square

You need a free POS system for a small grocery store
You need affordable POS hardware and accessories
You want to offer online ordering for free

Clover POS: Most Customizable Option

Clover POS

Get Started With Clover POS

Total Rating	4.3
Pricing4.0
Ease Of Use4.8
Features4.5
Customer Service4.4
User Reviews4.1

Pricing

Starts at $0/month

Contract

Depends on merchant services provider

Equipment Cost

$49-$1,799 per device

Pros

Lots of add-on apps available
Free loyalty program
Free EBT payments app
Custom payment processing rates

Cons

Can’t accept WIC payments
Expensive POS hardware
Potential for bad contracts

Why We Picked Clover For Customization Options

Clover is the most customizable option because, unlike other providers on this list, several merchant services providers sell the hardware and software. This means you can get a custom contract and the best payment processing rates from a Clover reseller.

We also like that several durable POS hardware options are available and a vast app market full of free and paid add-on apps so you can create a custom grocery store management solution.

Expert Tip: Use one of these best Clover merchant services providers for a good merchant agreement.

Pricing

Clover POS Plans	Price	When To Use
Clover Payments	$0/month	If you only need to process payments and don’t need any POS hardware
Clover Essentials	$14.95/month	If you have a small retail/service-based business and don’t take returns
Clover Register	$49.95/month	If you have a small to mid-size retail/service-based business and need more POS features
Clover Counter Service Restaurant	$54.95/month	If you have a quick-serve restaurant, cafeteria, or mobile food service business
Clover Table Service Restaurant	$84.95/month	If you have a full-service restaurant or bar

Since Clover devices are compatible with several payment processors, you can get a custom payment processing rate that is typically lower than the ones offered by competitors like Lightspeed and Square.

Clover does not charge any monthly fees for using a third-party payment processor (providers like Revel Systems do charge this fee.)

Clover hardware options:

Mobile Card Reader: $49
Clover Flex: $599 for a handheld POS system
Clover Mini: $799 for small countertop POS
Clover Station: $1,699-$1,799 for the full POS register kit

Related: Read our Clover POS pricing guide for more on how Clover software, hardware, and payment processing fees work with different merchant services providers.

Features

Custom merchant agreements and payment processing rates
Accept credit, debit, digital wallet, cash, PayPal, Venmo, gift card, check, EBT, and store credit payments
Free loyalty program
Free ID scanner app
Start a cash discount program to avoid payment processing fees
Free employee scheduling and time tracking app
Keep track of lottery payouts
Several inventory management integrations are available
Weight scale integration

When To Use Clover

You want durable POS hardware options
You want the best payment processing rates available
You want to customize your system with add-ons
You want a free loyalty program

Lightspeed Retail: Best For Specialty Stores & Co-ops

Lightspeed Retail

Get Started With Lightspeed Retail

Total Rating	4.1
Pricing3.7
Ease Of Use4.4
Features4.3
Customer Service4.1
User Reviews4.0

Pricing

$89-$269/month ($69-$199/month billed annually)

Contract

Monthly, annual, and custom

Equipment Cost

$199-$329

Pros

Subscription membership management
Comprehensive inventory management
Wholesale account management
Excellent multilocation management

Cons

No built-in EBT/WIC integration
Add-ons can get expensive
Early termination fee

Why We Picked Lightspeed Retail For Specialty Stores & Co-ops

Lightspeed scored a 4.9 out of 5 in features, its strongest features being in the register, store management, and online sales channels categories. We appreciate Lightspeed's extensive inventory management, which is great for specialty stores with unique and rotating inventory. Co-ops can manage co-op memberships and specialty stores can start subscription boxes with Lightspeed's subscription management add-on. Lightspeed also has good wholesaler management so specialty stores can sell to restaurants, caterers, and other businesses.

More: Compare Lightspeed Retail with our other picks for the best retail POS systems.

Pricing

Lightspeed Retail Plans	Price	When To Use
Lean Plan	$89/month ($69/month billed annually)	For single/multi-location retail business looking for strong inventory management and a customizable POS interface
Standard Plan	$149/month ($119/month billed annually)	For single/multi-location retail businesses looking for eCommerce and accounting features
Advanced Plan	$269/month ($199/month billed annually)	For single/multi-location retail businesses looking for a strong loyalty program and advanced business reporting

Other Lightspeed fees:

Extra Registers: $59/month/register
Additional Locations: $69-$269/month/location
Payment Processing: 2.6% + $0.10 for in-person payments; 2.9% + $0.30 for online payments

You must purchase your card reader from Lightspeed. A $79 mobile card reader and a $299 handheld POS terminal are available.

Lightspeed sells iPads, iPad stands, and accessories, but you can also purchase compatible devices on your own, which may be a more cost-effective option.

Features

Accept debit, credit, digital wallet, cash, check, gift card, and store credit payments
Charge orders to an existing customer account
Excellent built-in inventory management
Customizable loyalty program
Co-op membership subscription management
Free iPhone barcode scanner app
Online ordering with in-store and curbside pickup, local delivery, and shipping
Schedule orders in advance
List specialty items on Google Shopping
B2B wholesale account management
Strong custom business report generator
Several third-party integrations
Weight scale integration

When To Use Lightspeed

You run a co-op or another subscription membership program
You want extensive inventory management and reporting
You sell specialty items in bulk

Revel POS: Best For Grocery & Cafe Services

Revel POS

Get Started With Revel POS

Total Rating	4.0
Pricing3.6
Ease Of Use3.9
Features4.7
Customer Service4.2
User Reviews3.8

Pricing

Quote-based

Contract

Three-year commitment for lowest rate

Equipment Cost

Call for quote

Pros

Retail and restaurant POS software in one plan
KDS and self-serve kiosk software
Several cash drawer management functions
Excellent perishable and retail inventory management

Cons

Long contracts with early termination fee
Expensive for smaller businesses
Implementation fee required
No integrated EBT/WIC payments

Why We Picked Revel Systems For Cafe Services

Like Lightspeed, Revel Systems earned a high score in the features category. With Revel's unique all-in-one retail and restaurant software, you can build a cafe into your store for an added income source. The software offers strong inventory, multilocation, and report management so expanding businesses will find everything they need with Revel.

Pricing

Revel POS Plans	Price	When To Use
Revel plan	Quote-based: three-year commitment for cheapest plan	Use if you are committed to the product and have a need for high-end features.

Every business gets a custom quote on software, POS hardware, and payment processing.

There’s a one-time implementation fee starting at $674 which includes software configuration and on-site hardware setup.

Features

Accept debit, credit, mobile wallet, cash, check, gift card, check, and store credit payments
Excellent retail and perishable inventory management
Food item ordering functions
Kitchen display system for managing cafe orders
Self-serve kiosk cafe ordering
Online ordering add-on
Immediate and scheduled order pickup and delivery
Wholesale customer account management
Sell tickets to classes and events hosted by your store
Loyalty program builder
Physical and eGift card sales
Weight scale integration
Theft prevention
Open API (application programming interface) to build your own integrations

More: Read up on our best POS loyalty programs.

When To Use Revel

You want to open a cafe in your grocery store
You are expanding to multiple locations
You want enterprise-level inventory and report management

Get Started With IT Retail

IT Retail: Best Supermarket POS System

IT Retail	Visit Site

Pros

Built specifically for supermarkets
Excellent multi-department inventory management
EBT/eWIC certified POS
Registers include weight scales and can be turned into self-checkout

Cons

Very expensive startup cost
Early termination fee
Support costs extra

Why We Picked IT Retail For Supermarkets

IT Retail is designed specifically for fast-paced, multi-department supermarkets. We appreciate that this software is highly customizable and intuitive, especially if you have experience as a cashier, a cash office manager, or have worked inventory.

IT Retail accounts for every facet of running a large grocery store, from cash management to fast checkout to weeding out underlying issues such as theft and excessive shrinkage. Plus, the POS hardware bundles are specifically designed for grocery stores.

Pricing

IT Retail advertises a $199/month software fee. You’re also required to use IT Retail for payment processing and you’ll get a custom payment processing rate.

Common add-ons include:

Gift Cards: $30/month
Self-Checkout: $30/month/register
Deli Scale Integration: $2,799
Online Grocery Shopping Platform Integration Fee: $149
Grocery House Accounts: $15/month
Scale Setup Fee: $199
Remote System Configuration: $699
Monthly Support: $39/month

Full hardware bundles start at $1,499 and IT Retail offers a wide range of accessories including deli scales.

Features

Accept debit, credit, digital wallet, cash, gift card, EBT, eWIC, store credit, and check payments
Department-specific product management
Set ID scanner requirements for restricted items
Lottery sales, payouts, and reporting
Strong cash drawer and back office management
Manager override requirement settings
Flag checks that bounce
Custom shrinkage reports
Scales built into front-end registers
Convert registers to self-checkout stations
Deli scale integration with thermal label printing
Integration with online grocery shopping platforms
Several compatible hardware accessories

When To Use IT Retail

You run a multi-lane supermarket
Your store has several fresh food departments
You want grocery store-specific POS hardware and accessories

Get Started With POS Nation

POS Nation: Best For Selling Age-Restricted Items

POS Nation	Visit Site

Pros

Tobacco, alcohol, vape, and lottery sales features
Perishable inventory management
Shrinkage reduction features
Automated purchase ordering

Cons

Must use POS Nation hardware
Customer support and cloud backup cost extra
Early termination fee

Why We Picked POS Nation

POS Nation is trusted by thousands of retailers around the country and is well-suited for high-volume stores. POS Nation has excellent inventory management and tools to help reduce waste. It's also highly efficient, with automated purchase ordering and other features specifically designed to help busy grocery stores. With the ability to sell products like lottery tickets and tobacco, POS Nation is an excellent fit for nearly any type of grocery establishment

When To Use POS Nation

If you have extensive inventory management needs
If you sell lottery items, tobacco, or alcohol
If you need grocery specific software

Methodology

Merchant Maverick has been researching and reviewing POS providers since 2012. Our writers have tested over 100 different point of sale systems, evaluating pricing, features, ease of use, customer service, and user reviewers. Read more about how we rate POS providers.

When comparing different POS software systems, we consider many data points, including relative pricing, the depth of niche features offered, the price of hardware, and any associated payment processing fees. Our lists of the best providers include only apps we’ve deemed worthwhile from multiple vantage points. The POS vendors we pick share qualities such as widespread availability, accessibility, user-friendliness, and reasonable pricing. We also look carefully at niche features, such as check-splitting, inventory management, eCommerce, loyalty programs, gift cards, and more.

We spend an average of 10-15 hours researching and updating each one of our lists, making sure the providers included meet our internal standards for quality and reputation.

80+

Vendors evaluated

65+

Attributes assessed per vendor

20+

Features weighed

30+

Combined years of experience

Key Features Of A Grocery Store POS System

The features you need for your grocery store management software will vary depending on your store’s offering.

These are the features that the best software will have:

POS Reports
Speedy checkout flow
Strong inventory management
Employee and manager permissions
Barcode generator and scanner
Cash drawer and vault management
Gift cards and loyalty program
EBT/WIC payment acceptance
ID scanning for regulated item sales
Self-checkout registers
Weight scales for pricing fresh food and bulk items
Online ordering for pickup and delivery

If you offer niche products or services such as lottery ticket sales, co-op memberships, food subscription boxes, or made-to-order meals, look for a POS system that helps you manage these sales and service types.

More: Learn how to accept EBT payments.

How To Choose A POS System For A Grocery Store

To choose a POS system:

Create A Budget

POS system costs can be broken into monthly software fees, payment processing fees, and an upfront POS hardware purchase.

Most POS providers charge by the register and charge extra for advanced features. Keep this in mind when building a monthly software budget.

Payment processing fees are a per-transaction fee required for businesses to accept any digital payment type. Look for the POS system with the lowest payment processing rates that still meets your feature requirements to save money in the long run.

POS hardware offerings and pricing vary widely for grocery stores. Consider how much hardware you need and can afford to invest in. If you need niche hardware like deli scales, and can’t afford a sleek hardware package from a company like IT Retail upfront, consider financing equipment.

Decide Your Must-Have Features

Grocery stores have a lot of niche product sales and management features. Consider what payment types you want to accept, how large and complicated your inventory is, whether you want to offer products like alcohol or ready-to-go meals, and whether you want to use marketing tactics like weekly item discounts and a loyalty program.

If you have a lot of employees and asset movements (cash and inventory), choose a POS system with anti-theft features like manager override requirements, stock takes, and blind till counts.

Decide whether online ordering makes sense for your grocery store and any niche features you need.

Finally, don’t forget to find good POS reporting software.

Get A Free Trial Of Your Software Options

Once you narrow your list to a few potential choices, get a free software trial for each option. Import inventory, do test checkouts, and get input from your employees while you have your free trial.

Note: If a provider does not offer a free trial, sign up for a demo and ask customer representatives questions about the system.

Read Through & Sign A Merchant Agreement

Look for hidden fees like hardware installation fees, hardware warranty information, and early cancellation fees when you read and negotiate a merchant agreement.

Once you have signed your agreement, start setting up your software and hardware in your store!

Which Grocery Store POS System Is Right For Your Business?

The best POS for grocery store owners varies depending on your store’s size, product, and service offerings, as well as how simple or comprehensive you need your system to be. You will also want to ensure that the cost of a POS system fits your budget.

Once you decide on your POS system, learn how to negotiate a good merchant agreement to get the best software contract and payment processing fees possible.

Bio
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Nicolette Kier

Senior Staff Writer

Nicolette began writing on small business topics in 2020. After hundreds of hours researching, testing, and assisting small business owners with web building and point of sale software, she is now an expert on all things eCommerce and point of sale. She has a bachelor’s degree in English from the University of Pittsburgh and resides in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

View Nicolette Kier's professional experience on LinkedIn.

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1. Square For Retail

❮ ❯

Best low-cost option
$0-$89+/month/location
Monthly contracts, no termination fee

2. Clover POS

❮ ❯

Easiest software to train employees on
$14.95-$64.90+/month
Custom contracts

3. Lightspeed Retail

❮ ❯

Best for specialty stores and co-ops
$69-$269+/month
Monthly/custom contracts, early termination fee

4. Revel POS

❮ ❯

Best for grocery and cafe services
Custom pricing
Standard three-year contract, early termination fee

5. IT Retail

❮ ❯

Best supermarket POS system
$199+/month
Custom contracts, early termination fee

6. POS Nation

❮ ❯

Best for selling age-restricted items
$149+/month
One-time purchase or custom contract with early termination fee